Bowling ball



Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED .STATES FATENT oFEicE 2,396,228 BOWLING BALL Maurice o. Berg, Chicago, 111.

Application October 4, 1943, Serial No. 504,811

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a bowling ball and is more particularly described as a ball having a removable finger hole portion.

An important object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball with a plurality of finger hole parts with different spacing between the holes so that any one of the parts may be substituted in any ball.

A further object of the invention is to'provide a bowling ball with a removable grip portion which contain'the finger holes so that different grips can be substituted in any ball so that a person may apply the grip or finger hole section which suits him to any one of a plurality of such balls.

A further object of the invention is to provide with suitable locking means for connecting the parts together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball with a removable grip or finger hole portion with a locking device extending from the smaller portion into the larger one which is easily removed therefrom in order to connect other grip portions to the same ball.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a bowling ball with a removable grip or finger hole portion in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the ball shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section transverse to that of Fig. 2; and i Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of the fastening device.

As now used, regulation bowling balls are practically 9 inches in diameter and weigh about 16 pounds, so that it is inconvenient to carry such heavy equipment from one bowling alley to the other. It is desirable for each person to have a ball with a grip or finger hole section which is suitable for their individual requirements, and some times it is difiicult to find a particular grip in the regular balls at an alley. Many individual bowlers therefore carry their balls from one alley to the other so that they may be sure of grips that suit them.

The present invention provides means for constructing bowling balls in two or more Parts, one

part being the bowling ball proper machined or molded to size and slotted to receive a detachable grip section comprising a hole required for the thumb and another or others for the finger or fingers, and also with means for securing the grip or attachment to the bowling ball.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a bowling ball 6 is represented as having a transverse dovetailed slot opening from one surface thereof but terminating in a wall 8 at a distance from the opposite surface of the ball. Into this groove, a corresponding dovetailed block or grip portion 9 is slidable, having an outer surface which complements and completes the spherical surface of the ball fitting tightly in the groove 1 and against the wall 8.

In the grip or finger hole portion 9 are thumb and finger holes l0 and II suitably spaced apart, the distances being varied in different grip portions to accommodate. the fingers of different bowlers. In some grip portions, three or more finger holes may be provided if desired which might necessitate a wider block or grip portion.

In order to hold the grip or finger hole portion in firm contact with the remainder of the ball, a hole or bore [2 is inserted from the surface of the portion 9 at right angles to the bottom of the part and to the bottom of the groove 1 which exactly registers with a corresponding hole or recess IS in the bottom of the groove 1 of the main portion of the ball. Into these registering holes is inserted a locking pin M which tightly holds the grip portion in the groove maintaining the spherical condition of the ball.

The locking pin hole 12 is preferably located centrally of the grip part 9 between the finger holes which may not extend through the part. At the outer end of the bore I2 is an enlargement 15, the edges of which extend normal to the outer spherical surface of the ball for seating an enlarged head 16 of the locking pin and thereby presenting no thin edges at the opening or at the edge of the head which are easily chipped or broken. This is also true of the outer edges IT and [8 of the sides and end of the ball slot respectively.

In order to secure a locking pin in position, a spring finger 20 may be attached to the locking pin having a hump or projection 2| adapted to engage a notch 22 at the inside of the grip part 9, a recess 23 being provided in the pin M to receive the hump when inserting and removing the pin. If necessary, to exert pressure for withdrawing the pin, a partition 24 in the head It of the pin is provided by slots 25 at each side thereof with a transverse hole 26 through the partition which may be engaged by a hook or some suitable implement for forcibly withdrawing the pin l4 against the pressure of the spring 20.

Another suitable method of attaching the locking pin is to provide a pin 30 in the form of a screw having a threaded extremity 3i engaging a corresponding threaded portion 32 in the recess 33 and with a slot 34 in the head for inserting a screwdriver or any suitable instrument for tightening and removing the pin.

With this construction, the grip or finger hole part may be quickly attached to any bowling ball equipped to receive it; the bowling balls now in use may be changed to receive such grips; and a number of different grips may be provided to suit a variety of finger hole spacing without requiring a ball for each different grip. Persons who own their own equipment will not be required to carry another bowling ball but only his own individual grip which is small in size and light of weight in comparison with the entire bowling ball.

As bowling balls are now commonly made of composition material, the detachable and interchangeable fingerhole grips may be manufactured from thesame material which will have the same weight balance and action as any regular bowling ball.

Although this fingerhole grip is shown as comprising a single piece for the thumb and finger holes, it is apparent that a detachable and interchangeable grip may consist of two or more parts held in place by the outermost part in the groove, one part for the thumb hole and one part for the finger holes, without departing from the spirit and scopeof this invention.

I claim:

1. A bowling ball having a dovetail groove opening from one portion of the ball and terminating within the ball, a part of similar weight and material for slidably engaging in the groove completing the spherical surface of the ball and having fingerhole portions therein, and fastening means extending through the part for securing the part in the groove.

2. A bowling ball having a dovetailed groove able in'thegroove and fittingrtightly therein to complete the spherical surface of the ball, a, looking device comprising a hole extending through the part, and a corresponding recess in the bottom of the groove which registers with the hole and a locking pin insertable through the hole into therecess.

4. A bowlingballcomprising a removable fingerhole section fitting tightly in a groove in the ball and a locking pin extending through the fingerhole partinilo theball at the bottom of the groove, the locking ,pin having a spring finger engaging anotoh in thefingerhole part forholding it in p-lace,,and an engageable opening at the outer end for removing it. a

5. A bowling'ball comprising a removable fingerhole ection fitting tightly in a groove in the balland a locking bolt extending through the fingerhole part into the ballat the bottom of the groove, the locking bolt having a, threaded extremity and the ball having a threaded recess to engage the extremity and the outer end of the bolt having a slQtfor inserting and removing the bolt.

6. A removable finger hole part for a, bowling ball having a dovetail groove in one portion thereof, the part being interchangeably engageable in the groove and in similar grooves of similar balls and completing the spherical surface of any such balls to which it is applied. and a locking device extending through the said part and into the ball at the bottom of the groove for removably holding the part in place.

IMAURICE O. BERG. 

